Transit Cycles

J‌enna Majchrzak likes taking things apart. She always has.

Before she was the owner and service manager at Transit Cycles, a bike repair shop in Tucson’s Mercado San Agustín district, Majchrzak (pictured) rode her bicycle with neighborhood kids in Buffalo, New York, where she grew up. More than once, she ran into maintenance issues that sent her to repair shops — until her father told her that instead of a repair shop, they’d be visiting the library.

“I’m going to get you some books,” her father said. “We’re going to get you a little tool set. I’m not paying anybody to fix this stuff anymore.”

That started the long path that led Majchrzak to Tucson, where she’s lived since 2016. And now, she’s the one getting paid to fix bikes — she was a natural fit for Transit Cycles, which Duncan Benning opened in 2014. The shop is in the MSA Annex, which also houses locally owned eateries, bars and other shops, all in modified shipping containers.

Transit Cycles carries popular and specialty bike brands, including Esker Cycles, State Bicycle Co., Surly Bikes and Salsa Cycles. It’s also the main dealer in Southern Arizona for special orders from the Revel Bikes, Omnium Cargo Bikes and Xtracycle brands. The inventory changes frequently, but the shop maintains a floor full of ready-to-go builds.

As for repairs, the shop’s staff is able to service and maintain all kinds of bicycles, whether they’re decades‑old road bikes or modern builds. They also handle e‑bike repairs from major brands.

Customers planning a more involved cycling trip will find a wide selection of bikepacking, touring and commuter gear, such as racks, panniers, frame bags and accessories. The shop’s staff helps customers outfit their bikes based on riding goals, Majchrzak says, whether those involve adventure touring or daily commuting.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the bicycle industry boomed. When gym doors closed, people were eager to dust off a set of wheels from the garage, Majchrzak says. “[Benning] called me several times a week, saying: ‘I have suspension work for you. I have wheel builds for you. Can you help me out?’”

Majchrzak was already working full time elsewhere. But when a friend asks for help, you help, she says. And as weeks of extra work turned into months, Benning posed another question: Would Majchrzak be interested in buying him out?

“My first reaction was, ‘Hell, no,’ ” she says. But she gave it more thought, did her research and eventually took a chance on owning a small business during a pandemic. She wrote a check to Benning in January 2021.

Now, Transit Cycles is a woman-owned-and-operated bike shop — a badge Majchrzak wears with pride. She also credits her staff with fostering a welcoming, professional space, both among the team and with customers.

“I want to get people stoked on bikes,” she says. “My job is to make sure that whoever brings their bicycle to me, and whatever kind of bicycle it is, that they get it back in proper working order. … My first inclination is: You already have this [bike]. If you love it, if it means something to you, let’s fix it.”

The employees at Transit Cycles approach each customer with the same level of professionalism, no matter what their experience level might be, Majchrzak says. Supporting the Tucson bicycle community is important to her, whether her customers are participants in the Tour de Tucson or more casual cyclists. “We take care of them and we treat them the same way,” she says. “Everybody gets treated with respect.”

Cycling is for everybody, she adds: “You don’t have to be fast. You don’t even necessarily have to be good at it. If you enjoy riding bikes and having fun, that’s what matters.”